Glossary

Because the English language has changed drastically since Shakespeare's time, some of the words that he used in his plays are either no longer being used or have a completely different meaning. To avoid the readers of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" not to understand some details of the play not well, a glossary that contains the most important 20 words has been prepared.

A
at/on the altar of sth: Because of sth. that you think is worth suffering.

Example from the play: "Or else to wed Demetrius as he would, or 'on Diana's altar'..." (Theseus to Hermia, Act I)

aye: ever, eternity.

Example from the play: "To protest / For aye, austerity and single life." (Theseus to Hermia, Act I)

B
brake: a thicket, a cluster of trees or bushes.

Example from the play: "This green plot shall be our stage, this hawthorn-brake our tiring-house." (Quince to his group, Act III)

C
counsel: secrecy, confidence, privacy.

Example from the play: "And in the wood, where often you and I, / Upon faint primrose-beds, were wont to lie, / Emptying our bosoms of counsel sweet / There my Lysander, and myself shall meet" (Hermia to Lysander, Act I)

D
dew: to moisten, to water.

Example from the play: "I serve the Fairy Queen, / To dew her orbs upon the green"

Diana: In Roman mythology, Diana was the Moon Goddess that was also referenced in this play.

Example from the play: "Or on Diana's altar to protest..." (Theseus to Hermia, Act I)

dogged: fierce, cruel, ferocious; spiteful, malicious, vindictive.

Example from the play: "For if we meet in the city, we shall be dogg'd with company, and our devices known." (Quince to his group, Act I)

E
edict: an official order or statement given by sb. in authority.

Example from the play: "If then true lovers have been ever cross'd, / It stands as an edict in destiny: / Then let us teach our trial patience" (Hermia to Lysander, Act I)

enthralling: so beautiful that it takes all your attention.

Example from the play: "O cross! Too high to be enthrall'd to low." (Hermia to Lysander, Act I)

ere: before.

Example from the play: "And ere a man hath power to say, Behold, / The jaws of darkness devour it up" (Lysander to Hermia, Act I)

I
interlude: short play, theatrical performance.

Example from the play: "Here is the scroll of every man's name, which is thought to fit through all Athens, to play in our Interlude before the Duke and the Duchess, on his wedding-day at night." (Quince speaking to his group of actors, Act I)

L
lob: clown, country lout

Example from the play: "Farewell thou Lob of spirits, I'll be gone." (Fairy to Robin, Act II)

lode-star (or lodestar): guiding star, beacon.

Example from the play: "Your eyes are lode-stars, and your tongue's sweet air / More tunable than lark to shepherd's ear" (Helena to Hermia, Act I)

M
misgraffed: not matched well; unsuited.

Example from the play: "Or else misgraffed, in respect of years" (Lysander to Hermia, Act I)

O
oath: promise, undertaking.

Example from the play: "Two bosoms interchained with an oath" (Lysander to Hermia, Act II)

orb: fairy ring, circle.

Example from the play: "And I serve the Fairy Queen, / To dew her orbs upon the green." (Fairy to Robin, Act II)

R
roundel: dance in a circle.

Example from the play: "Come, now a roundel, and a fairy song" (Titania to her fairies, Act II)

T
thee, thou: you.

Examples from the play:

1) "To-morrow truly I meet with thee." (Hermia to Lysander, Act I)

2) "Thou shalt know the man, / By the Athenian garments he hath on." (Oberon to Puck, Act II)

troth: truth.

Example from the play: "So then two bosoms, and a single troth." (Lysander to Hermia, Act II)

U
unheedy: reckless.

Example from the play: "Wings and no eyes, figure unheedy haste. / And therefore, love is said to be a child." (Helena to herself, Act I)